SB Nation User Blog: Hull Fan

Draft Primer: Rangers Draft Picks 31-50

Hull Fan — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 19:56:55 -0000

31) Landry, Shon McNeese St U SS R/R 5'09" 175 1986-02-14 5S

-Signed-

http://forum.newbergreport.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8614&p=159562#p159562

*Shon Landry batted a team-best .349 with five home runs and 33 RBI in a season shortened by a broken collarbone. Now healthy, Landry leaves Tuesday to join a Single-A short-season team in Spokane, Wash.

Landry broke the collarbone by running into a wall April 26 at Texas State. With the injury fully healed, Landry said he returned to hitting in a batting cage about a week ago.

"I'm 100 percent healed," said Landry, a first-team all-Southland Conference player this season.

32) Williams, Reggie Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate HS (FL) CF S/R 6'04"190 1989-09-15 HS

-Wants overslot to sign- Committed to U Miami

http://minormoosings.blogspot.com/2009/06/draft-day-3.html

Long and athletic at 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, Williams is a switch-hitter with speed, rating as a 70 runner on the 20-80 scale for most scouts.

He led the state of Florida with 59 steals this spring in just 20 games while hitting .604. Williams' bat will be the question, as he's drawn some Gary Matthews Jr. comparisons both physically and in terms of his future potential. He hasn't shown much present power despite being an older prep senior (he'll turn 20 in the fall) as he hit only one home run this spring.

33) Rhoad, Kyle Eastern Michigan U CF R/R 5'10" 190 1985-11-10 SR

-Signed-

http://www.emueagles.com/custompages/baseball/2009/teamcume.htm

34) Prince, Jared Washington St U OF R/R 6'03" 195 1986-05-25 SR

-Signed-

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/wast/sports/m-basebl/auto_pdf/2009BaseballStats.pdf

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?topic_id=4961152&content_id=4757981

http://forum.newbergreport.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8614&p=159562#p159562

Prince went to bed Wednesday and night and stuck his phone in the other room.

He had seven text messages and several voice mails when he woke up on Thursday at 9 a.m.

"I think everybody else found out before I did," the 2005 North Kitsap graduate said.

Prince hit .343 with seven home runs and 38 RBI this year at Washington State. It was his best season since his freshman season in which he led the Pac-10 in hitting and was named a freshman All-American. His sophomore and junior campaigns were complicated by a shoulder injury. Prince didn’t make an error patrolling the outfield — he made only one in his four years — as the Cougars finished second in the Pac-10 and advanced to postseason play for the first time in 19 years.

35) Butler, Timothy Greenbrier Christian Academy (VA) RHP R/R 6'02" 1751991-03-13 HS

-Committed to Radford

http://tiny.cc/8lS68 goes by Eddie Butler local kid here in Chesapeake that pitches for a powerhouse Virginia Independent School that is ranked as the #20 high school team by BA.

http://www.ruhighlanders.com/news/2008/12/2/BB_1202083854.aspx?path=baseball

Raccuia’s take – "Eddie has an electric arm and stuff, and we truly believe he has a chance to win a lot of games for us. We wanted a front-of-the-rotation guy, and I think he’ll be able to fill that role sooner than later."

• Member of the 2008 VISAA State Championship team (Division II) at Greenbrier Christian coached by Gary Lavelle.

• Nominated to play in the 2008 United States Scholar-Athlete Games.

• On the State-by-State Follow Draft List for Virginia by Perfect Game in 2008; Ranked the 17th-best prospect in Virginia by Perfect Game.

36) Carasiti, Matthew Berlin HS (CT) RHP R/R 6'03" 205 1991-07-23 HS

-wants overslot to sign- Committed to St. John’s-

http://blogs.courant.com/school_zone/2009/05/carasiti-named-state-gatorade.html

Scouting video: http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?topic_id=4961152&content_id=4441355

http://www.examiner.com/x-12483-St-Johns-Red-Storm-Examiner~y2009m5d31-Connecticut-player-of-the-year-favors-the-draft-over-St-Johns

Good Article: http://www.dailypress.com/sports/highschool/hc-hsfeat0527.artmay27,0,7327641.story

There's no confusion about where Carasiti wants to pitch this summer. "I want to sign with a pro team," he said. "I've had that dream since I was little."

Where he ends up depends on where he gets drafted. "The earlier the better, obviously, but the cutoff round for me probably is the sixth," Carasiti said. Said Jim Carasiti: "Scouts ask, 'What will it take for Matt to sign?' It's like a chess game. We just have to wait to see how it plays out."

Carasiti throws a four-seam, two-seam and split-fingered fastball, a changeup and a slider. He says half his strikeouts have been with his splitter as he looks to lead Berlin on a long run next month in the Class L tournament.

37) Nading, Charles U Nevada Las Vegas RHP R/R 6'06" 220 1987-07-09 SO

* Jason Cole: Just got off the phone with Nading and it sounds like there's a decent chance that he'll sign. He's very very raw, but he's 6-foot-6 and has a good fastball.

PG: from back when he committed to OSU

This year’s top "Out of State" prospect is RHP Chad Nading, a 6-5, 190 lb right handed pitcher from Anchorage, Alaska who has signed with West Coast power Oregon State. Nading is the most heralded baseball prospect to come out of Alaska in memory and his presence in Cedar Rapids this weekend is a testament to how serious he is about his baseball future.

He’s a big kid, if nothing else. he is only a sophomore due to his transferring around, so he’s got eligibility left.

38) Hutting, Anthony Tesoro HS (CA) OF L/L 6'00" 185 1991-04-07 HS

-Wants overslot to sign- Committed to Cal State Fullerton

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2009/reports.jsp?content=hutting

http://www.ocvarsity.com/players/detail.php?playerID=50285&rosterID=26437&seasonID=8

39) Henry, Jabari Olympia HS (FL) RF R/R 6'00" 198 1990-11-11 HS

-Committed to Florida International University

http://www.pgcrosschecker.com/Articles/DisplayArticle.aspx?article=586

The tool that stands out the most for Henry is the bat. Henry has above average power in a very compact swing. In the opening game of the High School season, Henry took a Steven Ewing (listed above) offering deep to center field for the only run in his teams 1-0 win. He has shown an ability to hit top level hitting and will be watched extremely closely over the next few months. Jabari profiles at the next level as a power hitting left-fielder.

Perfect Game’s 23rd ranked player in the state of Florida...124th ranked player in the nation...projected as a top-10 round pick in the 2009 MLB Draft.

40) Vail, Taylor Cabrillo Col 3B L/R 6'02" 200 1986-09-05 J1

-Signed-

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/sports/ci_12576443

"You look at his swing and you can see there's something there," said Butch Metzger, the Rangers' NorCal scout. "Then you talk to the guy and go, Jesus, he's 22. What are we going to do with this guy? As a scout you have to convince people making the decisions to do something there. Fortunately, we were able to draft him and have a place for him. He's going to get into a situation where he can get lots of at-bats, and if he does well, because of his age, they'll push him along."

41) Garrett, Forrest Norcross HS (GA) LHP L/L 6'02" 168 1990-09-24 HS

-Wants overslot to sign- Committed to LSU

http://www.perfectgame.org/players/playerprofile.aspx?ID=112668

Forrest Garrett is a 2009 LHP with a 6'3'', 180 lb. frame from Norcross, GA. Garrett has a very projectable build to go with his already outstanding current ability. He has good effortless arm speed and he pitches in the high 80's to low 90's with command. He uses a 3/4 arm angle, with good arm speed and his velo comes easy for him. He has an outstanding change up which might have been the best change at the National. He also has a very good curveball. Very good pitchability and projects large. Very interesting 2009 lefty, one of the best in the nation.

42) Zagarac, Shane St Joseph's Col LHP L/L 6'03" 225 1985-08-15 SR

-Signed-

* The left-handed pitcher recently completed his senior season at St. Joseph’s College of Indiana where he went 5-4 with a 4.09 ERA in 11 starts for the Pumas. Zegarac led St. Joseph’s and was fifth in the GLVC in strikeouts with 72 in just 61.2 innings. A durable pitcher, Zegarac tossed three complete games with two shutouts.

43) Bonadonna, Joseph U Illinois Champaign CF R/R 5'08" 170 1985-09-06 5S

-Signed-

http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/bonadonna_joe00.html

44) Christman, Tyler U South Carolina Sumter RHP R/R 6'02" 180 1989-08-26 J1

-Draft and Follow this Summer-

http://njcaa.org/colleges_college_stats.cfm?sid=7&collegeid=1779&category=Stats&slid=3

http://www.theitem.com/article/20090612/ITSPORTS01/706129982/-1/ITSPORTS

"They’re doing a draft-and-follow on me," said the former Sumter High School and Sumter P-15’s standout. "They’re going to watch me over the summer and see how I do. They have until August to sign me."

Christman said he has no idea what he is going to do at this time. He is going to see how things shake out in regards to how many drafted players the Rangers sign.

"I know they drafted a lot of pitchers," he said. "If, say, 10 of those don’t sign, that could open up some more money for me. It could be soon or it could be in August."

45) Anderson, Dale Col Southern Idaho C R/R 6'01" 215 1990-05-02 J1

Video: http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?topic_id=4961152&content_id=4674533

46) Grundy, Jerad Johnsburg HS (IL) LHP L/L 5'11" 180 1990-09-11 HS

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?topic_id=4961152&content_id=4757981

http://forum.newbergreport.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8614&p=159562#p159562

*The Texas Rangers selected Grundy in the 46th round, much later than anticipated going into the draft. Grundy, a 6-foot left-hander who throws in the low 90 mph range, signed with Miami (Fla.) in November, so many teams did not use an early pick because they thought he would not sign.

"All the scouts knew it was going to be hard for me to back out of Miami," Grundy said. "Scouts categorized me as an ‘extremely tough sign.’ "

With an 80 percent scholarship to Miami, one of the nation’s elite programs, Grundy likely will not sign.

"I learned a lot about the process for next time if I don’t sign now," Grundy said. "Now I know how everything works and how to handle it."

47) Higgins, Tyler Mt Pleasant HS (MI) RHP R/R 6'02" 1991-04-22 HS

-Committed to Michigan

http://www.themorningsun.com/articles/2009/06/12/sports/preps/srv0000005574398.txt

"We were all paying attention to the draft on the computer and when my name came up everyone started cheering," Higgins said. "It was a great feeling to get drafted by a professional team. I didn't really care where I went, but for now I am a Texas Rangers fan."

48) Frenzel, Cole Dickinson HS (ND) 3B L/R 6'02" 1990-03-13 HS

-Committed to Arizona U

From PG: Frenzel was a big surprise at this event. He has good arm strength (91 from OF) and good raw power at the plate. He received National Showcase invite from performance at SS West.

http://www.perfectgame.org/players/playerprofile.aspx?ID=7960&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

Also PG: Cole Frenzel is a 2009 SS/3B with a 6'2'', 205 lb. frame from Dickinson, ND. Frenzel showed good hands in the infield and a strong arm. He has a strong LH bat and projects very well. He has good strength in his swing and shows good power potential. Interesting bat to watch as he continues to develop. He has signed with Arizona.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/ask-ba/2009/268051.html

Frenzel likely will become the 14th player to be drafted out of North Dakota, and he could go earlier than Elgie did. But he probably won't get picked high enough or draw enough of a bonus offer to make it worthwhile to pass up college. Major league teams figure to let him develop for three years with the Wildcats before making a run at him in 2012.

* From everything I’ve read he has top five round talent but seems pretty dead set on attending college. He’ll play 3B at Arizona and should be a big time slugger when he’s draft eligible again. I don’t think there’s a way in the world he signs unless Texas offers seven figures and in this economy with the other selections taken before him that won’t happen. Too bad he’s a great hitter.

49) Kendrick, Catlan Northgate HS (GA) RHP R/R 6'04" 180 1991-06-24 HS

-Committed to Kennesaw State U

http://www.eastcoastgrays.org/

Cat played with the Grays last year at Coastal Carolina, East Cobb and Jupiter. He is very projectable at the pro level due to his size and how loose his arm was. In Jupiter, he carved up a strong Central Florida Renegades team for 3 innings where he was 89-91 on the gun with a good slider and an unhittable split. When he fills out in his frame and gets a little stronger, there is no telling how high his ceiling will be. Cat will play with the Grays 18u team this summer while the Rangers follow his progress at Coastal Carolina (6-/25-6/28) and the WWBA 18u at East Cobb (6/30-7/6).

http://ksuowls.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/120208aac.html

"Catlan has a great arm and body and throws in the low 90's. He has a tremendous upside and great character."

http://www.times-herald.com/sports/Kendrick-latest-of-Northgate-s--No--13--draftees-67868

50) Melendez, Ronald Cowley County CC CF R/R 5'10" 170 1989-09-29 J1

http://www.cowleytigers.com/baseball/baseballstats/StatsOffensive.htm

Melendez, a freshman from Jacksonville, FL, batted .367 with four home runs, 14 doubles, and 38 RBI. Melendez also stole 18 bases and scored 51 runs in 59 games.

-Wants over-slot to sign- Committed to U Miami

Draft Primer: Rangers Draft Picks 11-30

Hull Fan — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:43:25 -0000

11) Gunter, Johnny Chattahoochee Valley CC RHP R/R 6'04" 230 1988-03-10 J3

-Say’s he’ll sign-

http://forum.newbergreport.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8614&p=159562#p159562

* Johnny Gunter had just got off the phone with a representative from the San Diego Padres, who told the Chattahoochee Valley Community College pitcher the team would select him in the 12th round of the Major League Baseball amateur draft Wednesday, when he walked into his family’s living room to tell his father the news.

"I was just telling my dad about the call when, all of a sudden, I hear, ‘The Texas Rangers select Johnny Gunter, Chattahoochee Valley, right-handed pitcher in the 11th round,’ " Gunter said. "I wasn’t even watching the draft on TV. I just walked in the room when it happened."

Now, Gunter said, he is looking forward to working his way up in an organization led by one of the best right-handers in history, Nolan Ryan.

"Nolan Ryan was a gritty, hard-working kind of pitcher," Gunter said. "I feel like I’m that kind of player. I can’t wait to get in there and work on getting better."

Gunter said his conversation with the Rangers was brief, and he expects to be offered a contract and given a reporting date after the draft ends.

12) DiFazio, Vincent U Alabama Tuscaloosa C R/R 6'00" 215 1986-05-15 SR

-Signed-

http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/difazio_vincent00.html

TR Sullivan on DeFazio: The Rangers used their 12th-round pick on catcher Vin DiFazio from the University of Alabama. He lost his uncle, also of the same name, in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. His uncle was his first baseball coach.

DeFazio then contracted a viral nerve disorder that limited his strength and mobility. It caused him to miss the entire 2007 season. He hit .329 in part-time action for the Tide this season. If he reclaims the form he showed while attending Indian River Community College, DeFazio could be an excellent pick.

13) Jamison, Justin Strongsville HS (OH) RHP R/R 6'08" 1991-01-10 HS

-Committed to Ohio State

I can't find anything out about this kid other than he's committed to home state school Ohio State. While their baseball program isn't great a lot of kids up there dream about playing for that school. I imagine the Rangers would have to offer a pretty good contract to buy him out. I wouldn't be surprised if he signs or not.

14) Bell, Chadwick Walters State CC LHP R/L 6'03" 200 1989-02-28 J2

-Draft and Follow this Summer- -Committed to Tennessee

Told Jason Cole, he was going to pitch this summer and that the Rangers plan to follow him before offering a contract.

http://www.ws.edu/athletics/Mens_Baseball/Players/2008/BioBell.htm

15) Campbell, Keith Everett CC RHP L/R 6'02" 190 1987-10-12 J2

http://baseballnwblog.com/2009/05/11/baseball-nws-pre-draft-analysis/

* Good arm strength—coming off Tommy John surgery. Not drafted in high school.

http://media.www.clipperonline.info/media/storage/paper1338/news/2009/04/24/Sports/Pitchers.Continue.To.Throw.Quality.Outings.For.Trojan.Baseball.Squad-3724637.shtml

Campbell likes to overpower hitters with his fastball that consistently reaches the low 90s miles per hour.

"For me I like to dominate the plate and go with a little swagger out on the mound," Campbell said. "Just showing [the opposing hitters] that I'm better than them and my fastball is going to beat them."

16) Revell, Michael Florida HS (FL) 3B L/R 6'00" 189 1989-09-06 HS

-Wants over-slot to sign- Committed to Chipola JC in Florida

* Was committed to FSU but has since backed out. So he may not be as strident on his money demands because of that. Or he’s going to JC in order up his draft stock, reinforcing his money demands.

17) Strong, Paul Marina HS (CA) LHP L/L 6'02" 195 1990-08-18 HS

-Wants over-slot to sign- Committed to UC Irvine

http://www.ocvarsity.com/articles/strong-sometimes-lot-2357324-last-renfrow

His fastball can touch the low 90s, though he’s in the high 80s with greater frequency. He throws three pitches for strikes – fastball, curve, changeup.

"I’m going to UC Irvine, but we’ll see what happens in the draft," Strong said. He said he has no set number that Major League clubs must hit to lure him away.

Marina coach Paul Renfrow said. "He wants to go to college, though. He’s a smart kid. … He wants to go to UCI. … It would take a lot."

* Gillespie said incoming recruit Paul Strong (17th round by to the Texas Rangers), would have to be offered money significantly more than players chosen in those rounds are offered, in order for him to sign.

18) Schaaf, Michael Arthur Hill HS (MI) RHP S/R 6'07" 235 1991-06-18 HS

-Committed to St. Peter’s College (NJ)

From TR Sullivan: Michael Shaaf, the Rangers' 18th-round pick, was a three-sport star at Arthur Hill High School in Michigan. He was considering playing quarterback at Michigan State or Rutgers but appears to be headed to St. Peter's College in New Jersey for baseball.

19) Boyd, David J M Tate HS (FL) 3B R/R 6'03" 180 1990-12-30 HS

- Draft and Follow this Summer- Committed to FSU

http://www.powershowcase.us/profiles/2009-PLAYER-profiles/profile-fl-boyd.php

http://www.pnj.com/article/20090610/SPORTS/906100353/Boyd+could+be+picked+in+MLB+Draft+today

http://forum.newbergreport.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8614&p=159562#p159562

Tate coach Todd Boyd, Jayce Boyd's uncle, said the money figure they were looking for was based largely upon how much a full scholarship to Florida State University is worth. Jayce has already signed with FSU and could end up playing with the Seminoles next year.

Now, Jayce will work with the Rangers and his advisor to determine the best place for him to play this summer. The Rangers will evaluate his play during that time and decide how much money to offer him sometime within the next couple of months.

20) Werniuk, Jerome Neil McNeil HS RHP R/R 6'06" 215 1991-09-10 HS

-Committed to Lemoyne

#7 out of Canada: Jerome Werniuk is a hulking 6-foot-6, 220-pound righthander. Because of his size, he has difficulty repeating his delivery and his fastball is just average right now. If it all clicks for him he has a chance to be special.

Video: http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?topic_id=4961152&content_id=4757981

21) Matlock, Christopher Central Missouri St U RHP R/R 6'02" 190 1986-07-04 SR

-Expected to be easy senior sign-

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?topic_id=4961152&content_id=4757981

* Chris Matlock , who is the MIAA single-season (14) and career (25) saves record-holder, also owns the MIAA record for consecutive scoreless innings at 40.2.

He was also a selection to the first-team Daktronics and ABCA All-America squads as a relief pitcher. Only one reliever is selected to the first-team. Matlock also was the MIAA and South Central Region Pitcher of the Year, and earned first-team honors in the league and region, and ranked third in the nation with 14 saves.

He had the nation’s best strikeout-to-walk ratio of 79-to-4 (one of which was an intentional walk).

Coach Myers Says: Chris is a returning All-American closer from last season. He is a highly competitive person that enjoys the late inning challenges. He can locate 3 pitches really well, hold runners, and field his position.

22) Brown, Samuel North Carolina St U RHP R/R 6'05" 215 1987-06-10 JR

-Signed-

* BA: The Wolfpack has several other pitchers who could go in the first 15 rounds, such as righthander Sam Brown, a tease who was a seventh-rounder out of high school in 2006 and an 18th-rounder last year as an eligible sophomore. He has low-90s velocity from a low-three-quarters slot.

23) Lima, Daniel Barry U SS R/R 6'01" 192 1987-02-21 SR

-Signed-

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/L/daniel-lima.shtml

24) Blackwell, Shawn Clear Creek HS (TX) RHP R/R 6'05" 195 1990-11-15 HS

-Committed to Kansas

* From PG: SCOUTING PROFILE: Blackwell has a long-limbed build with loose, easy actions and projects well. He throws from a tricky over-the-top release point, which forces him to clear his head in order to get his arm through, but his arm action is more natural than most young pitchers with his release point. He does a good job staying on line and getting over his front side on release. Blackwell’s fastball is routinely between 88-91 mph and pretty straight, but he does a solid job of spotting his fastball off the center of the plate. His out-pitch is a mid- to upper-70s curveball that has 12-to-6 shape and a hard, sharp bite that freezes hitters. Blackwell also throws an occasional sinking changeup in the mid-70s that could develop into a nice pitch for him with more use. When Blackwell is in sync with his curveball, it is a definite out-pitch, even when hitters know it is coming. Blackwell’s fastball velocity has been pretty steady for the last three years, but it’s easy to project him gaining a bit more speed when he gets stronger.-DAVID RAWNSLEY

http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=6db810ac1494d783

Blackwell said he doesn’t have a magic number that will tip the scales either way, but any pro contract would have to include eight-semesters of college tuition so he could go to school when his career is over.

"I’m hoping it isn’t going to be a hard decision," Blackwell said. "Basically, I’m really hoping I get offered the money I want where it is a no-brainer, or the money isn’t enough so it’s an obvious decision to go to Kansas.

"If (the money) is close, it’s going to be a hard one to make."

25) Cooper, Riley U Florida RF R/R 6'04" 215 1987-09-09 JR

-Wants over-slot to sign- Plays both football and baseball at U Florida

- Draft and Follow this summer-

* Florida's most complicated case is outfielder Riley Cooper, a premium athlete with tremendous speed who doubles as a wide receiver on the football team. He made little contact this spring with the bat, striking out 41 times in 89 at-bats. Cooper plans to play for Cotuit in the Cape Cod League this summer, rather than attend summer school like most football players do, so he’s likely to be a summer follow.

26) Castner, Kevin Cal Poly San Luis Obispo RHP R/R 6'04" 230 1987-08-03 SR

According to Cole: Agreed to terms last year but failed physical with bone spurs so the Rangers reduced his offer and Castner went back to school. He’s healthy now and will sign.

27) Barrett, Aaron U Mississippi RHP R/R 6'04" 200 1988-01-02 JR

For a guy who pitched at an SEC school there is absolutely nothing out there on him. If someone has got something google missed please do let me know.

28) Law, Derek Seton LaSalle Catholic HS (PA) RHP R/R 6'02" 1990-09-14 HS

-Committed to Miami Dade College

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?topic_id=4961152&content_id=4757981

http://forum.newbergreport.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8614&p=159562#p159562

Derek Law already has signed to play with Miami Dade College. He doesn't know whether he'll change his mind and turn pro.

"What the Rangers said, they want to do a summer follow and see me a couple more times, so I'm not 100 percent positive on what I'll do," Law said.

A thigh injury to Law caused his stock to drop, Seton-La Salle coach Shawn Trainor said.

"And the weather this spring was going against him," Trainor said. "He was only pitching once every seven or eight days and never really got in a rhythm."

29) Watson, Charles (CC) Cleburne County HS (AL) LHP L/L 5'11" 1851990-09-18 HS

- Committed to Mississippi State U

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2188747/

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=404

Watson is listed at 6-feet but that could be generous—either way he is undersized. Lefthanded, Watson’s fastball was 87-88 mph as he pitched from a ¾ arm slot. Hitters have a hard time picking up the ball from Watson’s hand as he creates deception with a short arm stroke.

"With his size, arm action and arm slot, you have to see crazy movement or high velocity to jump on a guy like that," an American League scout said. Then the scout used a common phrase heard in the scouting community. "For me, he’s a college guy," he said.

30) Fogle, Bryan Erskine Col RF R/R 6'02" 235 1988-01-14 JR

Couldn't find anything on him.

Draft Primer: Rangers Draft Picks 1-10

Hull Fan — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 04:45:47 -0000

True Blue LA

I'll keep it short up front. This is just a brief collection of comments, links, video, and scouting reports of the 2009 Rangers Draft. I certainly didn't include everything and tried to limit stuff on the first five picks b/c there's too much. This is by no means complete but I wanted to keep this for myself and follow along as signings are announced and figured more than a few of my fellow LSBers would appreciate it as well. Almost nothing that follows is my own words. I've tried to be faithful and post a link or at least the name/website of whoever is commenting. I know I left some attributions out because I have no idea who made the comment. I apologize now.

1) Purke, Matthew Klein HS (TX) LHP L/L 6'03" 175 1990-07-17 HS

Comments: When conversations arise about the top prep lefties in the class, Purke is on the short list. With three excellent offerings and command of them, to go along with a projectable frame, Purke's name comes up early and often. There might be a small concern about his durability because he's a little too slender, but that won't be enough to keep him from being taken high up on Draft day.

http://www.baseball-intellect.com/scouting-matt-purke/

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2009/reports.jsp?content=purke

BA scouting report on Purke

Purke rivals Tyler Matzek as the best lefthanded pitching prospect in this draft. He already throws a 92-95 mph fastball and could throw harder as he adds strength to his 6-foot-3, 180-pound frame. He backs up his heater with a hard slider that ranks among the best in the prep draft class. He doesn’t have much experience throwing a changeup because he hasn’t needed one. Last summer, Purke needed just nine pitches to work a perfect inning at the Aflac All-American Game and started the gold-medal game for Team USA at the World Junior Championship in Canada (albeit taking a 7-0 loss against Korea). Matzek has moved ahead of Purke for most clubs because he works with less effort. Purke throws from a low three-quarters angle that adds life and deception, but he has slinging action in his delivery. It’s not violent, but it’s not smooth either. Purke’s stuff, track record and strong makeup combine to make him an upper-first-round talent, though teams still were trying to gauge his signability. If he follows through on his commitment to Texas Christian, he’d be eligible again as a sophomore in 2011.

1A) Scheppers, Tanner No School RHP R/R 6'04" 195 1987-01-17 NS

Comments: Pitching in intra-squad action at Golden West C.C., Scheppers was creating a ton of buzz on the West Coast. The former Fresno State standout, whose Draft status took a hit because of a shoulder injury last year, was throwing free, easy and hard in early looks. With a plus fastball and the potential for a plus curve, if Scheppers continues to show he's healthy while pitching for the St. Paul Saints, he's going to shoot up Draft boards everywhere.

http://www.bbtia.com/home/2009/6/10/texas-rangers-day-one-mlb-draft-recap-the-purke-supremacy.html

Scheppers has expressed a willingness to sign as quickly as possible and begin his professional career, although that isn't necessarily an indication that he will, in fact, do so; his price tag could run as high as $4 million, although it isn't my expectation that Texas will meet those demands, forcing Scheppers to strike a compromise in the vicinity of $3-3.5 million. Make no mistake, however -- Scheppers is a top-10 talent, and Texas will be forced to part ways with top-10 money to seal the deal. Will they do so? My best guess is yes, but understand that this is neither a cheap nor a risk-free proposition. From a pure value standpoint, however, Texas could do no better, and if Scheppers fulfills his immense potential at the major league level, this will go down as one of the great supplemental-round steals in amateur draft history.

2) Mendonca, Thomas Fresno St U 3B L/R 6'01" 200 1988-04-12 JR
-Says he’ll sign-

Comments: Mendonca fits the profile as an athletic, left-handed power hitting third baseman. He takes advantage of a friendly home park, but the power should translate OK. Couple that with good defense at the hot corner and you're looking at one of the more interesting college infield prospects in the class. Only his tendency to strike out will hurt his status some, but he still should go well.

*Batesole said he expects Mendonca to sign a pro contract even though they have bargaining leverage of returning to school for another year.

"Ever since I was little I've wanted to play pro ball," Mendonca said. "Now I've got to take that opportunity and run with it."

The 2008 College World Series MVP also noted Texas' recent success with developing hitters, a list that includes Mark Teixeira, Michael Young and Ian Kinsler.

"Hopefully, they'll help me fix all those strikeouts," Mendonca joked.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2009/reports.jsp?content=mendonca

Hardball Times on his defense: http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/is-tom-mendonca-the-second-coming-of-brooks-robinson/

This is Joey M’s fervent support for Mendonca and a good recap of the first four picks. http://www.bbtia.com/home/2009/6/10/texas-rangers-day-one-mlb-draft-recap-the-purke-supremacy.html

3) Erlin, Robert Scotts Valley HS (CA) LHP L/L 6'00" 1990-10-08 HS
-Says he’ll sign.-

Comments: Erlin was getting more and more buzz in Northern California as the spring wore on. He's not the biggest guy in the world, but with an outstanding delivery, good makeup and above-average command to go along with a fastball that touches 90 and a curve that can be a plus pitch, he's an intriguing high school lefty. He'll need to improve his change-up at the next level and his size will probably give some teams pause, but an organization willing to look past that might take this sign able southpaw fairly early.

* Robbie Erlin had been quoted in his local newspaper saying he was turning down the Mustangs’ scholarship offer to turn pro after going in the third round to the Texas Rangers on Tuesday.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2009/reports.jsp?content=erlin
Jason Cole’s Q&A with Erlin: http://rangers.scout.com/2/871125.html

4) Doyle, Andrew U Oklahoma RHP R/R 6'03" 215 1987-11-12 JR
-Says he’ll sign-

* BA had him a 3rd rounder (He’s a Tommy Hunter clone)

#87 ANDREW DOYLE, RHP, OKLAHOMA
Doyle has solid stuff and a craftsman’s approach to pitching. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder has the arm strength to dial a four-seam fastball up to 93-94 mph when needed, but he prefers to throw 89-91 mph two-seamers on the corners, allowing their sink to create groundouts. His slider isn’t a swing-and-miss pitch but it is an out pitch, generating off-balance swings and more groundouts. His changeup gives him a third pitch that induces weak contact. Doyle has an easy delivery and is always around the plate. He doesn’t have the sexiest arsenal, especially compared to flamethrowing but erratic teammate Garrett Richards, but Doyle does have 15 wins in two seasons in Oklahoma’s rotation. He projects as a possible third-round pick and potential No. 3 starter in the big leagues.

5)    McBride, Nicholas    Ragsdale HS (NC)    RHP    R/R    6'04"    1991-05-13    HS
      -Committed to East Carolina

* From Jeff Simpson of Perfect Game USA: "Nick McBride was in control the entire game with a fastball that sat at 88-91 range and touched 93.   He has a lean athletic build and he looks to be around 6’4" and 180 lbs.   Nick has the type of body that should fill out well and his fastball projects to be an above average pitch down the road.   While he was not forced to throw many off-speed pitches, Nick would occasionally show off a curveball in the 73-76 range.   Nick showed a fairly tight rotation on some of his curveballs, but scouts would like to see more velocity on the pitch."

http://www.pgcrosschecker.com/Articles/DisplayArticle.aspx?article=771

Excerpt: Approximately 30 scouts were on hand last Wednesday to see the highly anticipated match up between Randleman RHP Daniel Tuttle and Ragsdale RHP Nick McBride. Tuttle entered the game as the consensus top prep pitcher in North Carolina, but it was McBride who stole the show in a 12-0 Ragsdale victory, throwing a six-inning perfect game with 14 strikeouts. While the score is indicative of a blowout the game was actually much closer as Ragsdale was leading 1-0 after three innings.

Nick McBride was in control the entire game with a fastball that sat at 88-91 range and touched 93. He has a lean athletic build and he looks to be around 6’4" and 180 lbs. Nick has the type of body that should fill out well and his fastball projects to be an above average pitch down the road. While he was not forced to throw many off-speed pitches, Nick would occasionally show off a curveball in the 73-76 range. Nick showed a fairly tight rotation on some of his curveballs, but scouts would like to see more velocity on the pitch.

BA: McBride, an East Carolina recruit, showed an average (87-90 mph) fastball and mid-70s slider at his best this spring, coupled with a projectable 6-foot-4, 180-pound frame.

Jason Cole: As a fifth-rounder, I think he will end up signing. But it sounds like it'll be an above-slot deal. Just a feeling I got from talking to him.

6) Sierra, Ruben San Juan Educational School CF L/L 6'02" 172 1991-03-10 HS
-Has Signed-

http://www.perfectgame.org/players/playerprofile.aspx?ID=124003

Little Ruben's BA write up

Like his father, Sierra passes scouts’ eye test, standing 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds with room to fill out. As that happens, Sierra will likely have to move from center field to right field. He certainly has the arm strength for right—his throws from the outfield have been clocked at 92 mph. His other tools are impressive as well. He runs a 6.4-second 60-yard dash and can put on a show during batting practice. It’s a different story, however, against live pitching. As a lefthanded hitter, Sierra has a tendency to bail out—his step is toward first base—causing him to become exposed against pitches away. Despite his natural tools, Sierra sometimes looks like he’s just going through the motions. Still, teams that value tools and projection are dreaming on Sierra, and he’s seen as a player who will greatly benefit from getting into pro ball, getting better instruction and playing every day.

7) Lane, Braxton Sandy Creek HS (GA) CF S/R 5'10" 190 1990-12-30 HS
-Committed to Oregon for both baseball and football

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindducksbeat/2009/06/braxton_lane_baseball_or_footb.html

8) Tullis, Braden Skagit Valley Col RHP R/R 6'02" 200 1990-01-23 J1
-Signed-

http://www.idahopress.com/sports/?id=23990

While at Skagit Valley College, Tullis said he worked on placing his fastball on the corners of the plate and developed a changeup — a pitch he didn't have in high school...

* Braden Tullis, 19, is a 6-foot-2, 205-pound right-handed pitcher who spent this past season as a freshman at Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, Wash. He was the school's No. 1 pitcher — after starting the season at No. 4 — and finished the season 9-2 with a 1.56 ERA.

http://prospectsparadise.blogspot.com/2009/05/juco-update.html
Excerpt: Tullis is very intriguing on the mound. He sports a fastball that touches 91 mph, sits in the high-80s, and has armside run and sink. He is an outstanding athlete (he’s the fastest player on his team), and he throws all 3 of his pitches for strikes. He obliterated competition this year, allowing just 2 runs in 55 innings.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/draft-tracker/2009/267921.html

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Tullis went relatively unnoticed at Timberline High in Boise, where he pitched and played the outfield. Tullis is a great athlete, who also played linebacker on his school’s football team and ran the fastest 60-yard-dash for Skagit Valley this year. Though he’s played outfield in the past, his future is on the mound. Over his first 28 innings, Tullis is 4-0, 0.33 with 27 strikeouts and 11 walks. He’s getting it done with a fastball that’s sitting 88-91 mph and has good armside run and sink. "He’s got a lot of movement, which you can’t teach," Skagit Valley coach Kevin Matthews said. "He has a real good feel for the change and he’s working on his breaking ball. He throws all three pitches for strikes and all are quality pitches."

9) Blash, Jabari Miami Dade CC South RF R/R 6'05" 218 1989-07-04 J2

* BA #121 Prospect:

Blash played some high school baseball in the Virgin Islands, enough to try to use baseball to go to college in the U.S. mainland. He attended Alcorn State for a year but wasn’t academically eligible, due to transcript issues. He redshirted that season, then wound up transferring to Miami-Dade JC, where he didn’t even earn a starting job when the season started. He’s quite raw and has holes in his swing, owing in part to his large 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame. He also has big-time tools, and several observers called him Florida’s best five-tool prospect. Blash has plus raw power, with 10 homers in just 102 at-bats this season, and above-average speed (he runs the 60 in 6.7 seconds) and throwing arm (it’s a right field arm, if not the cannon reported earlier this spring). Some scouts dream on Blash’s frame and see a future Jermaine Dye, who also was a JC player.

10) Lemke, Thomas Northwest Christian School (AZ) RHP R/R 6'07" 1990-11-05 HS
-Draft and Follow this Summer, looking for overslot money-

* "Summer could be interesting," said Lemke, whose initial conversation with the Rangers Wednesday led him to believe the club will send front-office personnel out to see him pitch at least a couple more times so they can evaluate him further.

17th Prospect out of Ariz: Pitching-Heavy High School Crop Disappointed

Righthander Thomas Lemke stares down at hitters from atop the mound. He has a great pitcher’s frame at 6-foot-7 and 205 pounds, but has gone backward this season. Sitting at 89-92 mph in the fall, his fastball was down to 85-88 this spring. He doesn’t use his height well, and his fastball comes in flat. Scouts also question his passion and say he looks lethargic on the field. He’s reportedly asking for $500,000, so teams will likely let him head to Nebraska and check back in three years.

2009 Draft and Stars' team needs

Hull Fan — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:26:02 -0000

Barring a major run or collapse Dallas will in all probability finish with the 6th-13th pick in the 2009 Draft. Dallas has their 1-3 round picks, 5th, 6th, and a 7th round conditional pick from Colorado. Which I assume means it could be this year or next. Dallas dealt their 4th rounder in the Brad Richards trade and their 7th rounder to Chicago for Doug Janik.

With that said, this is supposed to be a pretty deep draft with a lot of center/forward talent in the top fifteen. Outside of Hedman there's not a generational defenseman but supposedly there are plenty of solid defenseman who will be available in the top 75 picks. There's not a lot of consensus about goalies other than there are no sure fire, can't miss 1st round talents. Still though one or two good ones will be available later in the draft.

So you're Les Jackson for this little exercise. What does Dallas need? Most draft picks take three to four years before hitting the NHL. There are exceptions, see Backes, David or Simmonds, Wayne for example but three years is a fair developmental time. Thus everyone screaming defenseman, you're not wrong but that may not be the way this draft goes down.

Left Wing - Is pretty much set. Morrow, Neal, Benn, Brunnstrom, and Eriksson can all play left wing. As can Wandell and Ondrej Roman. I can't imagine they draft another one. Especially since the system is full of left shot forwards.

Center- Richards' contract is up in two years. I have no idea if he'll re-sign or if Wandell, Roman, Lindgren, or Sachetti will be ready. Of those Roman is probably the best pure center, but hardly a lock as a top two centerman. If Dallas is really high on Holland or Josefson, that could be the pick but I doubt they're leaning that way.

Right Wing - The cupboard here is pretty bare. Eriksson and Brunnstrom are both playing their off wings and Loui is due a big raise soon. Korostin is no sure thing. Wandell can play right wing but is another left shot. Sceviour seems destined to play wing for us but he may or may not be top six material. Sawada's a banger and Austin Smith may never get to the AHL, let alone NHL. This is a huge need but there are not a lot top end right wings in this draft. For the first round Kassian would be a huge reach unless Dallas trades back. Schroeder may be Zack Parise but may no longer be on the board. Scott Glennie is intriguing and playing right wing this season in Brandon. I'm searching for info to compare him and Schroeder. He's a guy Dallas could use and would be a very good pick up. I've seen him as high as 8th in some mock drafts and 14th in others. His playoff run will determine if he's top ten or not.

Defenseman - The good news is that all three of Niskanen, Grossman, and Fistric look like they can play at the NHL level. The bad news is there's not a lot behind them. I can't imagine a way in the world Dallas doesn't either sign a free agent defenseman or trade for one this off season. Zubov cannot be counted on. That is if Dallas even offers him another contract. Sydor is done, and Robidas' contract expires after next season. The four young guys, including Daley need a veteran.

Outside of that there's Ivan Vishnevskiy. He may be ready next year or he may never get more than a few games because his defense isn't/won't be NHL ready. Philip Larsen has been a revelation but beyond that? Monast has played well in the QMJHL. Hopefully he's a back pairing guy because otherwise it's practically non-existent. Bergin's shoulder issue could kill his development and Trevor Ludwig is not a prospect. Look for Dallas to sign another college/junior free agent defenseman, but they need at least two out of this draft.

Goalie - Turco's contract is up next season. His NTC may be void after this one. He's at an age where his best years are probably behind him and it's no sure thing he'll bounce back next season let alone play well enough for an extention. Stephan is probably a half way decent backup, though with Tippet behind the bench that may not be seen until Tobias leaves Dallas for greener pastures. He's a UFA after next season too. Brent Krahn is a UFA, three years behind because of injuries. I have to think his showing in the AHL will land him somewhere else this off season. Climie, is minor league filler.

Bachman's play hasn't been as good as last season, but neither is the team in front of him. He's still the best goalie in the system. Beskorowrany has been benched. I know the other Owen Sound goalie is supposed to be great but that's not a good sign. Especially since so far his club has refused to trade him. That may change this off season but starting less than 50% of the time in junior will not help his development. Once bright hopes are fading. Dallas has to take another goalie in this draft. I just hope it's in a later round. Reaching up to grab Besko seems like a bad second round pick right now. Every team in the NHL has been over scouting Jonas Gustavsson (he's an undrafted 24 year old free agent) but he'll probably end up somewhere he can fight for a starting job, like Colorado or Toronto.

I can't say I know enough about this draft to speak about anything out of the first 40 picks and the bigger the number the less my knowledge is. So I can't tell you who the 5th round sleeper this year is going to be. That said I can speculate about that 6th though 13th pick.

Assuming Dallas does not win the lottery the first six, Taveres, Hedman, MSP, Kane, Duchene, and Schenn should all be gone.

I like Jared Cowen but this is the best pick Dallas has hand in ten years. It's also most likely to be the best pick they'll have for another three to five years. Unless his physical says he'll completely rebound I just don't think the Stars can afford to take a chance on him. Not when there are other really good choices without his scary injury history.

Others are much higher on Nazim Kadri but he underwhelms me and I hope someone like LA or Phoenix nabs him before the Stars are on the board. Supposedly he's very selfish (doesn't use his linemates well) and recently got benched for a game by his OHL team for poor attitude. He's unquestionably talented but I would not take a chance in comparison to other equally talented players available.

Some mock drafts have Ryan Ellis going top fifteen some don't. I think he's a huge reach. His size and defensive struggles, especially as the competition gets bigger leave huge question marks. Seeing the difficulties Vishnevskiy has had learning defense makes me very wary of him. I really, really hope Dallas passes. He's not worth that high a spot.

More specifically though will everyone virtually throw things if they trade down a few spots? Is anyone else deathly afraid of a couple of these guys? The scouting staff has proven fairly adept at finding a late round gem but this is where you find franchise players and a lot is riding on this selection.

In my ideal world Dallas moves back from 6th to 11th, still nabs Jordan Schroeder and gets a defense prospect or a couple of 2nd round picks to draft an extra defenseman or two.

I don't claim to be a draft savant but I do know more than the average fan. If you've got a question about somebody leave a comment and I'll do my best to give as good an answer as possible.

Minors 8/7: Something to really cheer

Hull Fan — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 03:01:19 -0000

Since the bats were silent and that game sucked let's turn our eyes toward the positives going on down in the minors tonight. A very nice group of pitchers are on the mound and well

Down in Clinton Quintero had a solid start:

6ip, 6h, 2er, 0bb, 2k

and uberly loved catcher C. Santana was 3-3, with a HR and 2 RBI. Oh, and J. Ortiz had another solid inning in relief, for his 3rd save of the season and a line of 16g, 21ip, 12h, 6r, 4er, 0hr, 10bb, 16k and 1.71era. Not bad for a 17 yo in full season ball.

Reclamation project Zach Parker, formerly of the Rockies, 6ip, 3h, 0r, 1bb, 6k for the Roughriders. Beau Jones had another perfect inning of relief, as did Laughter.

Vallejo was 3-5 and don't look now but Manny Pina was 2-4 and now sporting a .304 average in AA.

Neil Ramirez went 2ip, 0h, 0r, 1bb, 3k for Spokane. He was followed up by another great outing by Z favorite Wilfredo Boscan 3ip, 1h, 0r, 0bb, 5k. This pitching by committee thing seems to be working in Western Washington.

O'Campo not doing so well in AZ, though the four Ranger errors may be the cause of his struggles. 4ip, 4h, 5r, 2er, 2bb, 5k. The rooks are down four nothing in the 5th.

And in the other late game the Blaze in Lancaster where pitchers go to die, Greg Swanson is on the mound. His line so far: 3ip, 7h, 3er, 1k.

So it appears more is going right down on the farm tonight than in Arlington. Oh and David Murphy, get healthy soon. 4th outfielder my ass.

Rotation post trade deadline

Hull Fan — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:42:33 -0000

In an ideal world Padilla and Millwood would be healthy and carrying us to a pennant chase. I'm willing to put money that just won't happen. This team has made huge strides as the season has gone on. Hell on Sunday three rookies hit in the winning runs, helping us take 2 of 3 from the Central leading White Sox.

So as a fan what should we expect post deadline as a realistic Ranger rotation? Well there are three scenarios. First, Padilla gets healthy and is dealt. The second is JD realizes playing the kids in the short term may lead to some lumps but in the long term will push this team forward in the later part of 2009 so he trades both Millwood and Padilla. The third is status quo.

I'm not a fan of the status quo. Its led to the worst pitching staff in baseball. More of the same doesn't build toward anything next year.

It appears Feldman will head to the bullpen or pitch till he hits 130 and then the Rangers plan to shut him down to avoid any possibilities of dead arm next season. That opens one spot. I like Matt Harrison, but would rather see him return to AAA to work on mixing his pitches and growing confident in his secondary stuff. At this point I'd like to see what Dustin Nippert's got. Yeah he kinda struggled against the Chi Sox but I'm giving everyone a pass for pitching in 99 degree heat in the middle of the afternoon. Regardless he's out of options and has pitched well as a starter the last month or so in AAA. He also has the best "stuff." The Rangers should give him every opportunity to show why he was once one of the best prospects in baseball. We've had a tendency to give up on pitchers early. I hope we don't make that mistake with him too.

If I could dump Millwood for anything decent right now I would. Hell the Rangers should eat like 5 million on that contract just to buy a better prospect. He's done nothing but decline since he arrived and whatever club house leadership he has is mitigated by the abysmal showings on the mound. Unfortunately, that's what going to keep him here and in this rotation. He has negative trade value. The only silver lining may be that he won't reach his targets to where his option is forced to be picked up by the club.

I'm also in the minority of liking Padilla when he's healthy. I really hope he gets that way and is packaged with someone for a really nice trade. It's not that he's bad but because we can't dump Millwood, I'd move Padilla to ensure there's a spot for Hunter and or Harrison next season.

So it should look something like this:

Millwood, Hurley, Mendoza, Nippert, and Harrison until McCarthy is ready to go then send Harrison back down.

Ideally, it'd be Padilla instead of Millwood but I gave up fantasies long ago. So what does everyone think the Rangers should do and what will they actually do?

The Minors 7/2

Hull Fan — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:19:03 -0000

I always enjoy the minor league threads. Generally shroom, or jparks chime in on a guy I've never heard of and I learn something so with that in mind.

AZL Rangers

Joseph Wieland (2008 4th Rounder) went 4 full innings with no hits, no runs, no walks, while striking out three.

The rookies beat up the A's AZL team 8-1, led by Erik Morrison (46th round Kansas Jayhawk 2B) going 3-4 with 3 singles, a walk, and one strikeout. First baseman Michael Ortiz went 3-5 as well.

Tonight

Neal Ramirez goes to the mound for Spokane in the late game at 9:00pm.

Feliz is on the bump for Clinton.

Evan Reed starts for Bakersfield.

And maybe most interesting of all, Tommy Hunter makes his AAA debut for the Redhawks.

Frisco has the night off. So if any of you are listening online or following the boxscores tonight please post your observations. I can't remember a better time to follow the minor leaguers.